W. Ritchie Russell

Medical Aspects of Head Injury

The title of this paper is inappropriate, for there are no exclusively medical aspects of head injury. Surgeons, medical neurologists, and psychiatrists have all contributed to our knowledge of the subject, while experience of working in a hospital for head injuries makes it evident that those who wish to treat these injuries should be familiar with all three aspects of the condition, whether they be surgeons, physicians, or psychiatrists. In this short article I shall refer to elementary aspects of head injury which will be of practical help to those who treat these cases and to those who as yet have made no special study of the subject.

Early Diagnosis of Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Battle Casualties

Penetrating Wound of Abdomen It was not felt that there was any special indication for penicillin in penetrating abdominal wounds, for it seemed to us that the deaths were due to physiological reasons rather than to sepsis. Infection of the abdominal wall is an indication of an infective element, and is also a bad prognostic sign as regards late deaths (14 to 28 days). A few such cases were treated by a short systemic course with decided improvement.

Use of a Recording Dynamometer in Clinical Medicine

There are many occasions in clinical medicine when the study of muscle strength and function is important. Disorder of the motor functions may be reflected in different ways, many of which are amenable to some system of recording. Simple recording dynamometers have been used in this clinic during the past three years, and have been referred to in connexion with studies of muscle recovery in poliomyelitis (Russell, 1952). The machine used was designed by Dr. E. H. J. Schuster (later models have been made by H. G. East and Co., Longworth Road, Oxford) and is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Two or more strengths of spring are available, and the maximum grip which can be recorded is 90 lb. (41 kg.). The normal grip is occasionally greater than this but will soon fatigue below the maximum figure on sustained contraction. The recording paper is moved by clockwork, and two speeds are available. Both hands may be tested together, with the recording pens (ball-pointed) side by side or one above the other.